John Deere

John Deere Helps Restore the Mall Turf

In 2013, the Trust for the National Mall celebrated National Public Lands Day with the announcement that John Deere had provided a Founding Investor gift of more than $400,000 in turf-management and grounds-care equipment that will be used to renovate, restore, and maintain the blanket of richly-colored restored grass covering America’s Front Yard.

The equipment donated by John Deere will be used on the National Mall from 3rd Street to 7th Street. Last year this section of the Mall underwent Phase I of a major restoration. The equipment will also be used in Phase II of the planned restoration of the rest of the National Mall grounds, set to begin in 2014. The multi-year restoration is focused on improving the park’s ability to serve the public need for national celebrations, demonstrations, festivals, and other special events.

“John Deere is both honored and proud to play a role in the renovation of this iconic landscape,” said Denver Caldwell, manager of turf marketing and marketing support for John Deere. “We continue that commitment by providing the equipment to sustainably care for America’s Front Yard.”

The turf restoration has made the National Mall a more vibrant and sustainable park by adding an improved irrigation system, putting in underground cisterns to collect rainwater, and installing drought-resistant turf. John Deere’s donation continues the Trust’s efforts to make the National Mall more environmentally friendly by supplying the Park Service with equipment that runs on alternative fuels.